East State asphalt plant: Campaign contributions and property tax?

Five days after the positive vote by the Winnebago County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) recommending the proposed William Charles asphalt plant on East State Street, Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen got a campaign contribution from MWE Holding Company LLC for $2,500. The address of MWE Holding Company LLC is listed as 5450 Wansford Way, Suite 201, Rockford. Note the other companies at this address. (Photo by Nichole Larison Sammon)

By Nichole Larison Sammon
Fox Ridge Subdivision resident

Sept. 19, five days after the ZBA hearing, Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen (R) got a campaign contribution from MWE Holding Company LLC for $2,500, the address of MWE Holding Company LLC is listed as 5450 Wansford Way, Suite 201, Rockford, IL 61109. Note who is listed as a resident of 5450 Wansford Way in the picture. A listing for MWE Holding Company LLC could not be found in the Illinois Secretary of State’s online database.

Winnebago County Board members approved a $182 million spending plan.

The overall property tax rate is expected to increase from 82 cents per $100 in equalized assessed valuation to 88 cents, though the actual rate won’t be set until later this year. That rate means the owner of a $100,000 home, not counting any homestead exemptions, would pay about $294 to the county next year instead of a bill of $276, providing the home is assessed at the same value for both years.

A salary increase from $70 a meeting to $100 a meeting for the seven members would amount to less than $3,000 more next year from the $46.1 million general fund budget. That’s if all members attend each meeting.

The amount was small, but some board members felt a raise was bad in principle because of the economic times. The measure ultimately passed 18-8 with Schultz, John Sweeney, R-14, Fred Wescott, R-9, George Anne Duckett, D-12, John Ekberg, R-10, Frank Gambino, R-14, John Guevara, R-13, and Kay Mullins, R-8, voting against.